Rector continues commitment to agriculture

Friday

Dec 7, 2012 at 9:15 AM

By Roland Stoy

rstoy@thedailyreporter.com LANSING — Fresh from receiving an award for service to agriculture, it was announced Monday Natalie Rector has been named research coordinator for the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan.The consensus is they are getting a good woman.At the annual state Michigan Farm Bureaumeeting Nov. 29 in Grand Rapids, Rector received the organization’s 2012 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, which recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the agriculture industry.Born and raised on a farm in Cass County, she started out with the MSU Extension in Lapeer County, and her 30 years of service has included in Branch, Hillsdale, Jackson and Calhoun counties.An MFB press release said, “Few individuals involved in Michigan agriculture today have done more, single-handedly, to protect the environmental resources the state’s farmers depend on than Marshall resident Natalie Rector.”The award is MFB’s highest honor.The MFB said Rector has impacted hundreds of farmers in south central Michigan as a widely respected crop agent, and has helped livestock and crop producers engage in good husbandry of their animals and stewardship of the land.It was over 10 years ago that Rector brought the new Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program to Branch County, and it is now flourishing under Gov. Rick Snyder.Rector has ag in her veins. Having been raised on a farm, she had many fond memories of growing up with livestock and the land.She told The Daily Reporter in a profile last spring of raising an orphaned Herford calf her father said was not likely to survive.“My dad said he’d never make it, but he did, probably due to a lot of help from my dad,” she said.She also recalled spring hog farrowing “was really exciting. Baby pigs are really cute the first week of their lives.”She had been with the Extension since she graduated from the MSU crop and soil program.“I’ve worked a lot with both farmers and related agencies in my career,” she said. “I’m definitely better suited to work with farmers. They have an honest and sincere focus in their lives. I like and respect that.”Regarding the MFB award, Ken Blight of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau praised Rector's hard work and availability as a resource person for producers.“I began working with Natalie in the 1980s,” said Doug Bloom, vice-president of Branch County Farm Bureau. “She has been great to work with and really relates with farmers.”“Natalie was worried about what she would do upon retirement. I promised her we would find something to keep her busy,” said Melvin Boughton, president of Calhoun County Farm Bureau.The CMPM has found something to keep her busy.Executive director Jim Zook said in a press release that Rector’s background, experience and lifelong dedication to farmers and Michigan’s agriculture industry made her a perfect choice for Michigan Corn.“We are thrilled to have Natalie join the Michigan Corn Office, where we can utilize her vast experience and passion to support and expand Michigan’s corn industry,” he said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and is well known across the state for her work ethic and ability to get things done.”The CMPM is at micorn.org.